On the 6th of November, 2026, Wellspring Saigon welcomed Catholic High School students and teachers from Singapore, home of the Merlion. This is the second time a student exchange program has taken place at Wellspring Saigon, but both schools’ excitement have not dimmed in the slightest.
At 9:30 a.m., the managers, heads, vice president, president, and supervisors of the Student Council welcomed CHS students and teachers. Shortly after the representatives of Wellspring Saigon and CHS gave their opening speeches, a friendly basketball match took place on the 3rd-floor basketball court.
Credits: Huỳnh Thiên Khánh
The match between the schools’ high school athletes was fierce, attracting students and teachers to come watch during morning recess. The results across 2 matches were 26-09, with Wellspring Saigon taking the win. Fortunately, there was no tension between both schools’ students. The athletes embraced each other brotherly as the match came to an end.
One of the CHS players, Nevan Yi Xin Teo, commented on the basketball court: “The quality of the facilities here is really, really good, compared to our school in Singapore. Everything’s well renovated and the colors are nice.”
Another player, Chang Ye Braylon Yeo , reflected on his mood during the game: “I felt quite pressured because the whole school was basically watching. There was a lot of cheering, which is quite energetic, but at the same time, I felt a bit scared.”
Credits: Huỳnh Thiên Khánh
Their teammate Zachary Yee Won Lim added, "The players are very energetic and they play with a lot of intensity. They also communicate well. The energy today was amazing; I really liked how everyone was cheering for each other.”
A magnificent spread of refreshments awaited CHS and Wellspring students inside the auditorium after the friendly basketball match. Not only were there fresh fruit, cream cakes, and puffs, but also traditional Vietnamese cakes like “banh bo,” “banh chuoi,” and beef pate chaud to introduce the Singaporean crew to regional Vietnamese cuisine. The tea break was an opportunity for students to further connect and understand each other’s cultures. After all, food is the universal language.
Upon touring Wellspring briefly, students and teachers from CHS were impressed with the overall facilities and attitudes of Student Council members.
Ms Wee Nee Chua, the teacher in charge of CHS’s student council, commented that Wellspring had excellent, modern, and new facilities. She was also pleased with how friendly WISers were, which is a trait that she wants to bring back to CHS.
Josiah Kai Rong Tan, a student, mentioned that although Wellspring’s facilities are more modern, CHS has more diverse sports facilities, such as softball and baseball fields.
Another peer, Keon Lau, was impressed by the 2 basketball courts and new, clean facilities. He observed that CHS’s student council isn’t as hyper or energetic as Wellspring Saigon’s, as it is made up of only boys.
Credits: Huỳnh Thiên Khánh
Following the tea break, Student Council president Duong Tue Anh and vice president Do Phan Huyen An gave a presentation about Vietnamese students’ culture, like Crocs in socks and “goi dau duong sinh” (head spa). In return, the vice president of CHS student council introduced Singaporean and CHS culture, including a fun lesson on “Singlish.”
Credits: Huỳnh Thiên Khánh
Afterwards, Đoàn Quỳnh Anh, head of Skill Development Committee, hosted a game of charades, where CHS and Wellspring students guessed Vietnam-related items based on their peers’ descriptions. The game was chaotic but engaging and strengthened students’ bonds. Finally, the cultural exchange wrapped up with singing performances from The Obsessions, Wellspring Saigon’s beloved band, and from all CHS students. CHS’s Wushu team’s vice captain gave a wushu demonstration as well.
Before leaving, everybody had Thai food for lunch at Wellspring’s cafeteria. The dishes received enthusiastic praise from CHS.
Ethan, who had pad thai and 2 bowls of “che thai,” expressed that he “really liked the food” and “would eat it every day.” He also suggested that the cafeteria should make bigger “che thai” portions.
Credits: Huỳnh Thiên Khánh
It was a pleasure for Wellspring Saigon to once again host CHS students and teachers for a cultural exchange day. This event helped cultivate new friendships, teach management skills, and expand knowledge on Southeast Asian culture, making it a socializing and learning experience for Wellspring Saigon Student Council members.
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